About Us
Come join Elaine Hayes in a journey of self-discovery to become a better partner for your horse.
She created Partnership Dressage to give competition horses a better "deal". Through the many years of showing, she has noticed her training approach of partnering with and listening to the horse are sorely lacking in the competition arena. Because "you don't know what you don't know", many competition riders are told the horse "must" be a certain way to compete.
Through her journey of self discovery and looking inward, she has found not only a more connected way to be with horses, but that these “ways of being” actually improve performance as well.
Elaine seeks to show them there is a better, kinder, and more empathetic way, not only to be with their horse, but also bring out the best qualities in their horse so they can shine in competition.
“It’s amazing what you can learn after you’ve learned all you think there is to learn.” -Ray Hunt
Meet Elaine
Elaine Hayes
FEI Trainer and USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medalist
A horse crazy kid, Elaine has always cherished her special bond with horses. From an off-the-racetrack thoroughbred at 16, to her current Grand Prix horse, many different horses have taught her many important lessons.
While Elaine emphasizes the partnership with her horses, she has always enjoyed confirming her classical training approach by feedback from the judges in the show ring. In her 40 year competitive career, she has competed in over 500 dressage tests, shown dozens of different breeds of horses from the ordinary to the extraordinary and everything in between. She has received multiple local and regional championships at many levels, and earned her bronze, silver and gold medals all on horses she trained herself. Elaine is rated a 4-star trainer on USDFscores, having trained multiple horses to the FEI level, most recently, Seneca, a downhill, West Virginia bred Morgan pony to Intermediare-1!
In Elaine’s formative years, she had the good fortune of working with well-known classical dressage trainers like Major Andreas Lindgren, Karl Mikolka, and German riding master, Bodo Hangen, and his working student at the time, Catherine Haddad-Staller who became her mentor. She has worked with multiple national and international level trainers since and for the past 15 years, Christopher Hickey has coached her regularly in addition to yearly retreats and clinics with Catherine.
In 2012, at the behest of a very difficult horse she couldn’t figure out, Elaine‘s training philosophy took a dramatic left turn to include natural horsemanship. Lost without direction, she turned to alternative training techniques and philosophies, as everything she had learned up to this point was not working. Many advised her to “get rid of” her dangerous gelding. But she knew in her heart, there must be a better way so she searched for one. She participated for the first time in a horsemanship clinic with Greg Eliel, who was so kind and compassionate with her very unpredictable gelding and her totally clueless self at that first clinic, she was immediately and permanently transformed.
She continued to work with Greg in yearly clinics and also worked with Joe Wolter on multiple occasions. She has been hugely influenced by horsemanship greats like Ray Hunt, Tom and Bill Dorrance, and Buck Branaman, so much so that it is not an understatement to say they changed her life. Most recently, Elaine has discovered online training programs and podcasts of Tristan Tucker, Karen Rohlf, and Warwick Schiller, all of whom she enthusiastically recommends to anyone with a desire to grow and learn about a better way to be with and train your horse.
In horses, as in life, you cannot possibly know too much!!
Elaine now focuses on sharing the lessons she’s learned in the past 10 years from natural horsemanship to allow her clients avoid making the same unfortunate, (and all to common), choices she made in her pre-horsemanship riding career.
Let her passion for non-judgmental self-awareness (both mental and physical), heart-centered natural horsemanship, and classical dressage skills help your partnership with your horse shine, both in and out of the show ring.
“Do the best you can until you know better. When you know better, do better.” -Maya Angelou
What Our Clients Are Saying
“I have been at Lake Norman Dressage for over nine years, first as a weekly student, now as a full time boarder. I can say with complete confidence that Elaine Hayes is the most hard-working, dedicated and passionate horsewoman around. A sign hangs in the barn that reads “never give up.” Over time I have come to see that this is the founding principle of Elaine’s approach to her students and horses; she focuses on the possibilities rather than the limitations, the fundamentals instead of shortcuts, and above all, she believes in listening to what our horses are telling us. I have many examples of this attitude at work to share, but one in particular stands out. Fairly recently it came to Elaine’s attention that a horse she knew was in serious trouble. In fact, this horse had once been in training with Elaine years ago but after leaving LKN Dressage he had fallen into unfortunate circumstances. What I remember is this: she immediately took her trailer to the location and loaded up what was left of “Rocky” with tears in her eyes. The gorgeous black gelding she knew was barely recognizable having gone without food for an estimated eight weeks. We cried a lot and talked a lot about what had happened. Remarkably, Elaine’s focus throughout those first days was not on the burden this was placing on her, nor the cruelty that had been exacted on this horse by other humans, but rather on the incredible nature of horses. Despite being starved and neglected she could see that Rocky held no grudge and was glad to be alive. For her and the rest of us, this was true inspiration. Now Rocky is thriving! It was such a joy to watch his transformation under her care. I can’t imagine a stronger testimonial.”
“When I moved to NC from New Jersey in 2006, LKN dressage was the closest to my new home (at an hour away) and I boarded my mare there. I never left. I learned so much from Elaine about how to PROPERLY care for a horse (something my former trainer in NJ didn’t bother to teach me). Thanks to her, I also have learned how to be a confident rider. I can’t say enough good things about Elaine and her facility. If you want to board your horse and get the peace of mind that comes with knowing your equine partner is getting the best possible care, then LKN Dressage is the place you should look into.”
“There are many things to recommend about Lake Norman Dressage Center, but what I appreciate most about Elaine as a trainer is her adaptability. She has the rare gift of seamlessly adjusting her teaching technique to the level needed by the individual riding student, no matter if it is a beginner or advanced rider. From hands-on techniques and visual images to accessible language, Elaine always finds the appropriate way to help her students connect with their horses and improve their abilities in the saddle. Her focus on horsemanship and her deep care for the horses make this facility a welcoming as well as highly professional place.”
“Elaine, and everyone at LKN Dressage, make this just not another stable but a family who all care & supports each other. Not to mention that Elaine treats every horse as her own. Care at LKN is wonderful and after 40 years of boarding horses throughout the U.S., I’m a very picky & educated customer. Feed, turnout, ring, everyday attention to care, fellow boarders, along with Elaine being a top Grand Prix trainer, make this barn the very best! ”
“Elaine is a consummate professional. She is dedicated to classic dressage and helping you learn how to train your horse in the classical method. I have learned so much about riding and horse management from her. If you goal is a quick fix with a gimmick, go somewhere else. If you are serious about learning classical dressage this is the trainer for you!”
“Elaine is totally tapped into her horses’ needs and personalities, and she is caring, warm, and wise... everything I would want in a dressage instructor and trainer! Highly recommend!”
“Less is more. It applies in everything.”
— Elaine Hayes